This week The ambience affair give us an insight in to what

equipment is making that beautiful racket. 

If you had to describe the ambience affair's sound in one sentence, what would they be?

Looped acoustic/electric guitars, combined with loud vocals and driving bass/drums.

Considering there are only two of you, your sound is quite big, could you explain a bit about what's happening when your playing live?

Well actually we're a three-piece now with our new bassist Yvonne.It's really broadened out what we do live, I'm now not controlling the flow as much but it's still all centered upon the loops I create on the guitars.

What equipment are you using live at the moment?

 

Yvonne has a Rickenbacker, I have a Taylor Acoustic & Fender thinline electric with a deluxe valve amp.I also use a boss rc-20xl loop station and a host of electro harmonic effects.Marc has various bits and bobs that comprises his drum-kit, from a 20 inch floor tom, to a Yamaha snare, and the kick drum  off a Pearl Export.He uses Paiste 2002 Hi hats & Cymbals.

Is there any equipment you would say is very important to the ambience affair's sound?

The loop station, as without it, we wouldn't really have our sound.

Was it a conscience decision to choose acoustic guitar over electric? did you see any benefits of one over the other?

We're actually trying to balance out the two at the moment and on our album I'd say it's 50/50 in terms of the electric to acoustic ratio.

Initially I was on my own and I think that's where the acoustic guitar came about, I was also writing and influenced by songwriters that used them.

What pedals do you own and what would you consider to be the work horses?

The electro harmonics delay one is my favourite,I also have a boss blues driver, but again, the loop station has to be considered the work horse for me.

Do you do much home recording? if so could you explain your recording set up?

Unfortunately, the way the songs are constructed, it makes it very difficult to do decent home recordings but I do usually take a sample of something I've been working on and play it back to the other members in the band to see what they think.From there we usually form songs.

Is there any studio equipment you have found very useful?

The Vox AC30 was something I found particularly useful as I'm particularly proud of some of the electric guitar sounds on the album.

Also, we used an 'echo chamber' to record the drums on a couple of tracks, and it turned out really well.

Is there any equipment that if money wasn't an issue you'd invest in?

Probably the PatchMate Loop 8 as I think you can loop stereo channels with it.

Could you recommend any studios in Ireland (or elsewhere) that you found to be very good?

Charthouse Recording Studios in Dublin was a great studio to use, and their engineer/producer there Ian 'the noise' Mc Nulty was a privilege to work with.

And lastly, could you recommend any equipment?

Pretty much everything that we've mentioned above!

The Ambience affair play bar ritz Castlebar w/RSAG on April 2nd

check out their music and upcoming shows at

www.theambienceaffair.bandcamp.com

or

www.myspace.com/theambienceaffair

Here’s their video of the track “vacant hearts”